The metals sub-sector which consists of ferrous and non-ferrous metals is a key component in Malaysia’s manufacturing and construction industry. Taken as a whole, exports of the metals industry in January to May 2009 fell by 26.9 per cent to RM9.2 billion from RM12.6 billion in the first five months of last year. Imports of metals which are critical inputs in our fabrication industry, also declined by 35.3 per cent in the same period. A total of 47 projects were approved in the metal industry with investments valued at RM2.6 billion for the period of January – May 2009. As part of the metals industry, the iron and steel sub-sector provides basic raw materials and intermediate inputs to other sectors such as agriculture, construction and engineering. The Government had introduced measures to help spur production and trade in this sub-sector. Effective 1 August 2009, steel manufacturing licences will be issued without restriction to meet the demand for long and flat steel...

• Physical retail stores in Taiwan are struggling to maintain their sales performance, as local consumers have become more cautious on their spending amid the economic downturn. • According to the current statistics released by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), during the first half of 2009, the revenue of the retail trade declined 3.26 percent to US$48.17 billion, compared with same period in 2008. •Taiwan consumers have become more rational and less impulsive about purchases, buying with shopping lists in hand. The consumers also tend to spend their money on fresh foods and daily necessities and avoid high-prices items on the shelves. •Faced with this trend, hypermarkets have introduced various promotional programs to try to stimulate sales and are presenting their products in smaller packages to cater to consumers’ smaller budgets. •In contrast to the hardship experienced by physical retail channels, online virtual retailers have not been affected, as they...

• In recent years, Muslim food becomes popular in China. With the rising standards of living, the requirement of food safety and taste of the Chinese people is getting higher than before. • With the successful closing of Beijing Olympic Games and the upcoming Shanghai World Expo in 2010, halal food is gaining importance to serve the needs of more Muslim visitors. • In the past three years, the China’s Muslim food sector has experienced fast development. Due to the strong demand in China’s mainland, most of the Chinese Muslim enterprises are now increasing the production scale to tap the growing market share. • In recent years, Chinese Halal food and product industry has sustained a development growth of 10% per year and in 2006, the total Halal food commerce was more than US$ 2.1 billion. Comparing with the international marketing, China’s market share only accounted for 0.1%. • The total value of China’s Halal food exports was less than US$ 100 million. This...

ASEAN Economic Ministers at their meeting in Bangkok on 13-16 August 2009 announced that the establishment of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), especially the creation of a single market, is on track. Y.B. Dato’ Mustapa Mohamed, Minister of International Trade and Industry, led the Malaysian delegation. The ASEAN Economic Ministers noted that initiatives to create a single market have contributed to the significant increase in intra-regional and extra-ASEAN trade. Intra-ASEAN trade in 2008 was US$453 billion or 26.7% of ASEAN’s external trade. Ten years ago, intra- ASEAN trade was only US$120 billion. In 2008, ASEAN’s global trade exceeded the trillion dollar mark at US$1.69 trillion. ASEAN has also remained an attractive destination for FDI despite global challenges. ASEAN as a region has attracted investments totaling US$184.6 billion over the period 2006-2008. Internally, ASEAN is close to full integration through AFTA. A favourable environment for cross-border investment...

The Malaysian American Electronics Industry (MAEI) expects a turnaround in the global electrical and electronics (E&E) industry by 2010 with demand picking up for personal computers, disc storage systems and mobile phones as widely forecasted by major international research houses. Exports of US electronics manufacturers in Malaysia are to register 15-20% rise in the second quarter of 2009, and another 10% in the third quarter. The increase is driven by the stimulus packages implemented by governments worldwide, especially China. The expected increase in exports in the second quarter is also due to worldwide consolidation activities and inventory correction. Malaysia has also benefited from the global economic crisis as some companies gained from additional activities and increased use of shared services as a result of the consolidation of overseas companies and outsourcing strategies, such as in design and development (D&D), procurement, financial services, IT and human...

ASEAN-wide: 98.94 per cent of all products have been placed in the Inclusion List (IL) of the CEPT Scheme for AFTA. Of which 97.15 per cent are at 0-5 per cent. Average tariff in 2009 is 1.65 per cent (1.95 per cent in 2008). For ASEAN-6: 99.40 per cent of all their products are in the Inclusion List (IL), of which 99.71 per cent are at duty of 0-5 per cent. Average tariff is 0.79 per cent in 2008 (1.32 per cent in 2007). For CLMV: 98.31 per cent of all their products are in the IL, of which 93.15 per cent are at duty of 0-5 per cent. Average tariff is 3.00 per cent in 2009 (3.69 per cent in 2008).

• Pusat Pengumpulan dan Pemasaran Produk Usahawan (4PU) merupakan program yang dilaksanakan bagi membantu memasarkan produk keluaran usahawan Bumiputera di bawah satu bumbung. • Pusat ini yang juga dikenali sebagai Trading House mempunyai elemen pengumpulan, pemasaran dan juga value add services (di bawah Program Groom Big) iaitu peningkatan mutu pembungkusan, penjenamaan, kualiti produk serta membantu mendapatkan pelbagai sijil yang berkaitan seperti GMP, HALAL, HACCP dan lain-lain. • Produk yang telah pun ditingkatkan mutu dan kualitinya akan dipromosikan sehingga ke luar negara menerusi pameran perdagangan antarabangsa dengan kerjasama agensi Kerajaan lain termasuk usahawan pemasaran luar negara yang dilantik oleh Kementerian Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri (MITI). • Bagi membantu memperluaskan pasaran produk-produk usahawan Bumiputera di luar negara, MITI telah menubuhkan Trading House di luar negara dengan melantik syarikat kepunyaan Bumiputera Malaysia yang...

A Trade and Investment Mission to West Asia/ North Africa (Qatar, Egypt and Saudi Arabia) will be held on 4 – 11 October 2009. The mission aims to enhance trade and investment relations with the Middle East and North Africa countries, specifically, Qatar, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Malaysian exporters especially in the services sector and Malaysian companies who wish to collaborate in trade and investment with the host countries are encouraged to participate in the trade and investment mission.

Exports continued to expand in July 2009, increasing RM3.8 billion or 8.4% from June 2009. Imports increased by 14.2% to RM41.1 billion from the month before. Total trade increased month-on-month by RM8.9 billion or 11% from June 2009. Malaysia also recorded a trade surplus of RM7.8 billion making July 2009 the 141 consecutive month of trade surplus since November 1997. Year-on-year comparison for the period January to July 2009 showed a marked contraction in total trade, exports and imports. In the first seven months, total trade fell by 23.9% from the corresponding period of 2008. Exports declined by 23.3% to RM299.4 billion while imports shrank 24.7% to RM232.3 billion. Five export destinations namely Singapore, China. USA, Japan, Thailand collectively contributed 51.7% of Malaysia’s total exports in July 2009. Singapore remained the top export market while China overtook both the USA and Japan to become Malaysia’s second largest export destination since March...